Murray Hotel in Hong Kong

Murray Hotel

Architects: Foster + Partners

Location: 22 Cotton Tree Dr, Central, Hong Kong, China

The Murray Hotel opens to the public

The Murray, Hong Kong’s newest luxury hotel has now fully opened to the public. Located on the southern edge of Central with panoramic views of The Peak and the gardens to the south, this major transformation of a listed government office building reinvents this unique urban quarter – stitching together the urban fabric by linking the large green spaces flanking the site to the east and west.

Luke Fox, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners said: “Our design for The Murray creates a dialogue between the old and the new – giving the building a new lease of life and a renewed purpose, with a unique sense of character that is embedded within the fabric of the building.”

The 25-storey Murray Building was originally designed at a time when the city was planned around the car, and consequently stands on an island site surrounded by roads, making it impermeable for pedestrians. One of the central aims of the regeneration project was to reconnect the building with the city at ground level, creating a new street frontage on Garden Road, transparent and welcoming ground floor spaces, and enhancing and extending the landscaped grounds to incorporate a public tai chi area. Revealing a real sense of arrival, the design peels back the original car park deck to create a private forecourt with the old and valuable tree at its centre forming the hotel drop-off and entrance.

From here the visitors walk through the majestic arches, that now rise up three stories from the ground level, into the hotel lobby. The upper levels contain the guest rooms where the rooms have been designed to complement the strong geometry of the facade and frame stunning views of the Hong Kong skyline and lush gardens that surround the site. The top of the building has been given over to the public with a restaurant and bar that open onto a roof terrace with unparalleled panoramic views of Hong Kong.

“The Murray recalls the tradition of the grand hotels with its distinctive presence. It seeks to redefine the idea of luxury, which is about a generosity of space, a sense of calm, and an inherent understanding of how the hotel responds to the needs of the guest. The experience is seamless – from how the guests arrive at the destination, and then travel through the building to the interiors that showcase the inherent beauty of the materials, all coming together within a holistic vision for The Murray,” added Fox.

What was an office building from the 1970s, has been completely transformed into a unique luxury hotel – elegant hotel lobbies and restaurants occupy the erstwhile car park, plant room spaces have been replaced with banquet halls, luxurious pools and spas, and the office spaces on the floors above have been reinvented as exclusive hotel rooms. While reimagining all these spaces, the design team took care to retain the distinctive spirit of the building that makes The Murray a unique destination for all.

The architecture of the original building was a direct response to the climate of Hong Kong – the windows are recessed and carefully orientated to avoid the harsh tropical sunlight – gaining it an Energy Efficient Building Award in 1994.

The design team consulted Ron Phillips, the original architect from the public works department, thus gaining valuable insights into the building’s history. The new design retains the façade while upgrading other aspects of the building and extending the life of the building by introducing a new function appropriate for changing demands of the city – giving it a sustainable legacy for years to come.

Photography: Nigel Young / Foster+Partners

19 Feb 2018

Completion of the Murray Hotel is celebrated in Hong Kong

The Murray Hotel, re-imagined and designed by Foster + Partners, officially marked its completion at a plaque unveiling ceremony in Hong Kong officiated by guest-of-honour, Mrs. Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR along with Mr. Peter Woo, Chairman of Wheelock Holdings Pte Ltd. The Murray, converted from the previously known Murray Building, is one of several historic landmarks under the Conserving Central Initiative Project to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the HKSAR.

A former government headquarters tower, the 27-storey Murray Building, originally designed by architect Ron Phillips almost 50 years ago, has been re-born as The Murray, a 336-room luxury hotel with panoramic views over the city’s Central Business District and serene green surroundings.

The architecture of the building is in direct response to the climate of Hong Kong with recessed windows, carefully orientated to avoid the harsh tropical sunlight. The new design retains the façade while upgrading other aspects of the building and extending the life of the building by introducing new functions appropriate for the changing demands of the city – giving it a sustainable legacy for years to come.

A central aim of the project was to reconnect with the city at ground level, creating a new street frontage on Garden Road, transparent and welcoming ground floor spaces, and enhancing and extending the landscaped grounds to incorporate a public tai chi area. A large historic tree (‘Old and Valuable Tree’), which rises up through the podium has been conserved as the centrepiece of the arrivals sequence for guests.

Mrs. Carrie Lam said, “Having actually worked in this building twice in my public service career, I am thrilled to witness the impressive transformation of The Murray, once home to many government departments for half a century, to becoming a home away from home for guests from around the world.”

“We are grateful that we are given the opportunity to take on this project, a very unique project; we are inspired by the energy of this building, and the timelessness of the architecture; we are humbled because we have the responsibility to undertake this very important project to create a dialogue between the old and the new,” said Mr. Peter Woo.

“We decided to mandate Foster+ Partners to work with us because of their vast experience in conservation projects the world over. We thank our project partners and various government departments for working closely and diligently together to make the completion of the project possible,” Peter Woo added.

Committed to preserving this iconic landmark, Wharf engaged Foster + Partners to redesign, redevelop and launch this hotel for the people of Hong Kong. By breathing new life into this modern Hong Kong property, a unique hotel and leisure destination for local and international guests to enjoy has been established.

As the flagship property of Niccolo Hotels, which owns and operates an exclusive collection of luxury hotels, The Murray received its hotel license in late November, and will fully open for guests in March 2018

About The Murray, Hong Kong, a Niccolo Hotel
The Murray, Hong Kong, opening in 1Q 2018, is a high-profile preservation project by British international studio for architecture and integrated design Foster + Partners. The hotel, part of Hong Kong’s Conserving Central Initiative, was previously the stand-alone Murray Building, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. A member of Global Hotel Alliance’s Ultratravel Collection, the US$1 billion contemporary urban chic sanctuary will feature 336 oversized rooms and suites spanning 25 floors. Other facilities include a stunning rooftop bar with breath-taking views of the central business district and the green oasis of Hong Kong Park, a series of signature restaurants and bars, as well as creative meeting and event spaces. Further details on The Murray, Hong Kong are available at niccolohotels.com